A 22-year-old youth died on Friday and several others were injured after communal clashes broke out in Aligarh, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts on Thursday night over the bursting of fire crackers.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in communally sensitive Khatikan area of Aligarh town and a large number of personnel from provincial armed constabulary , rapid action force and quick reaction team were deployed.

Police said the trouble started late on Thursday night when some residents objected to the bursting of crackers near a house in Khatikan locality where bereavement was reported to have taken place. The heated argument soon led to an exchange of brickbats followed by firing. Within minutes, mob fury broke out and a shop was set afire. Most of the injured had wounds caused by countrymade firearms, police said.

The injured were rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College where the youth, identified as Gaurav, died on Friday .“There was no injury on vital organs. He was shot in the thigh that ruptured the femoral artery. He could have been saved if he was brought here in time to prevent blood loss,“ chief medical officer SAH Zaidi said.

As the news of the youth's death reached the locality , tension gripped the area, following which prohibitory orders
were imposed till November 30.

Senior superintendent of police J Ravinder Goud told TOI, “Bursting of firecrackers led to communal clashes here, but the situation is now under control. Family of the deceased has been given a cheque of Rs 10 lakh as compensation. Nine people have been arrested, including the main perpetrators of violence. Necessary action will be taken against them.“

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